Pulp Scifi - Can it actually be GOOD? (Decipher - Stel Pavlou)

Member Name: Alindrail

Product:	Decipher - Stel Pavlou
Date:	22/02/02 (177 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fast paced plot, Excellently researched

Disadvantages: Doesn't exploit good characters

This is Steve Pavlou's debut novel and a fine first effort it is too! OK it's pulp scifi fiction for the masses, but it works very well!

The basic plot is that Atlantis has been rediscovered, while at the same time solar activity has increased at an alarming rate. From there Pavlou develops an intricate tale linking science and action in frantically paced novel.

All fine and good, you might say, but what of it? Well, as well as being a thrilling action book to entertain you on the train into work, the book works because of the sheer amount of research that has gone into it. Pavlou has looked at the science surrounding the sun, language, physics in general, and the cutting edge of atomic research.

The plot. Pretty straight forward, some neat little twists, but nothing that will startle you out of your seat, or leave you gasping in shock.

I think perhaps this is where the book lets the reader down. The lack of character exploration is dissapointing, especially in a book where, I felt, the characters WERE interesting. I wanted to care about Sarah, Dr Scott, November and the rest of the team exploring Atlantis, but was never given the opportunity. Great character pieces were set up, but then never exploited. This book could have stretched a lot further, and I feel it is a shame it didn't. Some of the relationships worked well, but suffered from lack of enough character interaction to really fit into the book as convincing in their depth.

A book which explores a premise in a believable and well researched manner, that gives genuine interest through sustained momentum and action, but suffers from exploiting some of the characters that are prepared so well.

A definite page turner with science fact coming out of every page.

I look forward to the next book.

Summary: